Hoka Tor Speed 2 Review

The Hoka Tor Speed 2 is a hiking boot from a company made famous by its massively cushioned running shoes. The biggest problem I found is the shape of the toe box, which is even worse than the Hoka Tor Ultra, which is my favorite hiking boot. With running shoes, I'll typically cut open the toe box to solve this problem, but that obviously doesn't work with a waterproof boot! Other than that, I found the Tor Speed to be a lovely hiking boot. It's extremely light, this outstanding grip on a variety of surfaces, is nicely cushioned, and it's waterproof. To keep your feet dry, you'll need to wear waterproof trousers in the rain, or the water will simply run down your legs and fills the boot. If you're not going to wear waterproof trousers in the rain, then I'd recommend going for a non-waterproof shoe that will dry quickly, such as the Hoka Mafate.

Hoka Tor Speed 2 top

Hoka Tor Speed 2 outside

Hoka Tor Speed 2 bottom

Hoka Tor Speed 2 inside

1 Characteristics

Cushioning. The Tor Speed2 is well cushioned for a hiking boot, but it's firmer than most Hoka running shoes are. This is partly due to Hoka using their RMAT foam, which is heavier and firmer than traditional EVA foam. While this makes the Tor Speed 2 heavier than I'd like, it's still relatively light for a hiking boot, and not outrageous for a running shoe.

Drop. The Tor Speed has only 4mm of drop, which is a huge improvement over most hiking boots that have high heels. I tried a wide array of hiking boots when I was looking for alternatives to my Tor Ultra boots, and many of the alternatives have remarkably high heels that make walking and naturally quite tricky.

Structure. The Tor uses both RMAT and EVA foam, but I didn't notice any interference with my walking stride.

Flexibility. The Tor has a little more flexibility than most hiking boots, which is not saying much. However, the thick foam midsole has some give that allows the foot to bend reasonably naturally.

Outsole. The Tor Speed2 has both RMAT and Vibram Megagrip on the outsole. Both materials provide remarkably good traction on a wide variety of services. I found remarkable levels of grip even on wet rocks. Rather like the Hoka Mafate, the Tor Speed 2 inspires more confidence in the available attraction than any other footwear I've tried.

Shape. Sadly, the Tor Speed 2 is just as bad as many Hoka running shoes, and it's clearly not designed to fit the human foot. This is a particular pain in a waterproof hiking boot, as you don't want to cut it open for fit. I found the shape to be a deal breaker, but if you have toe deformities through years of wearing shoes with cramped toe boxes you may find you can get away with this boot.

Upper. The upper of the Tor Speed 2 is far more what you'd expect from a running shoe than a hiking boot. It's nicely flexible, and reasonably comfortable, but it doesn't offer the protection you might expect from the typical scrapes and scratches you get when hiking. For waterproofing, Hoka are using the eVent waterproof membrane, which like any other waterproof membrane on the market, is completely waterproof until the membrane tears, which seems to be a problem with all hiking boots. And while the membrane is breathable, it's not breathable enough to keep up with your sweat rate in warmer conditions. Just like an old school leather shoe, the best option is to swap your socks periodically. To keep your feet dry when it rains, your need to wear waterproof trousers to prevent the rain simply running down your leg and into the boot. If you're not going to wear waterproof trousers in the rain, I'd recommend going for a Trail running shoe that's not waterproof, but will dry quickly.

Tongue. The Tor Speed is a tongueless, booty style upper for most of its length, dividing out into a traditional tongue just above the crook of the ankle. This means it's waterproof to around 5 inches.

Lacing. The laces are rounded, and are less than ideal, so you have to pay a little more attention when tying them to prevent them coming loose. Unlike a traditional hiking boot, the lace holes go all the way up, rather than having at the top if you replaced by hooks. The lacing hooks make it vastly easier to get in and out of the boot, and the use of eyeholes really annoyed me.

Heel Counter. As is typical for a hiking boot, the heel area has a rather firm Heel Counter, but I have not had any problems with it.

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2 A Comparison with the Hoka Tor Ultra

The Tor Speed 2 is one of two waterproof boots Hoka makes, the other being my favorite boot, the Hoka Tor Ultra.

The biggest problem with the Tor Speed 2 is that the toe box is even tighter than the Ultra.

Compared with the Tor Ultra, the Tor Speed 2 is 4.4oz/125g lighter. This is a huge weight difference, and you can feel the difference on your feet. If it weren't for the toe box problems, I would probably prefer the Tor Speed 2 just for the weight difference.

The Speed 2 doesn't come as far up your leg, which allows for much more natural ankle movement. While I wouldn't want to run far in the Tor Speed2, it would be a little easier than it would in the Tor Ultra.

The lack of eye hooks at the top of the lacing on the Tor Speed2 really annoyed me, and made it much harder to get in and out of the boot.

The Tor Ultra comes up higher, which makes it less likely that water will come over the top of the boot, more run down your leg if your waterproof trousers ride up. However, the difference is much less than you might expect that only around 0.5"/1cm.

both boots have remarkably similar midsole and cushioning. There roughly the same thickness and cushioning, with the Tor Speed being slightly more rounded at the heel.

While I found a lot to like in the Tor Speed 2, the toe box problems were the deal breaker.

3 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories.

Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity.

Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game.

Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g.

Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk.

Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well.

All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close.

Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.